The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) released the 2012 year-end shipments of general aviation airplanes. GAMA also expanded the data to include delivery data for helicopter manufacturers.  Most general aviation aircraft flying in the world today were built by GAMA member companies.

“While the 2012 shipment and billing data were mixed, the numbers don’t reflect the amount of development work in progress in general aviation,” said Brad Mottier, 2013 GAMA Chairman. “The general aviation segment is poised for resurgence in the next few years as these new technologies certify and enter the market.”

“The GAMA committees will focus on lowering the barriers in general aviation to enable advanced technologies to more easily enter service and help improve safety,” said Mottier. “GAMA will also continue to expand the association throughout the general aviation industry as well as internationally.”

The year-end airplane shipments increased 0.6 percent to 2,133 airplane deliveries in 2012. The airplane billings declined slightly to $18.9 billion compared to 19.0 billion in 2011. The helicopter segment delivered 1,044 aircraft in 2012 which was a change of 21.5 percent compared to the 859 in 2011. The value of helicopter shipments in 2012 was $3.4 billion.

“2012 saw an expansion of the GAMA membership to the agricultural airplane segment and helicopter manufacturers,” said GAMA’s President and CEO Pete Bunce. “The data that we are publishing today reflects deliveries through the full breadth of certified general aviation manufacturing and the significant impact our industry has in creating more jobs and boosting the global economy.  The current economic challenges and changing market dynamics have broad implications for the industry.  That is why we have an aggressive agenda for 2013 that is aimed at increasing government effectiveness, advancing policies that strengthen general aviation, and raising general aviation safety levels worldwide.”

Turboprop airplanes ended the year positive at 580 deliveries compared to 526 in 2011. The piston engine segment declined slightly to 881 units which is a decline of 1.9 percent. Business jet shipments also declined from 696 to 672 units. Helicopter deliveries increased in 2012. Multi-engine and single-engine turbine helicopter deliveries increased 16.3 percent and 23.3 percent respectively while the piston engine helicopter segment increased 22.4 percent to 328 units in 2012.